Every school in Miami-Dade will start the new school year on Monday with an armed School Resource Officer (SRO) present in the building.
As part of the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act, every school in the state must have an SRO. However, since the law was just recently passed, a county the size of Miami-Dade faced quite a few challenges with the tight deadline; including how to pay for all of these officers.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez says the state government only gave the county about $8 million, while the county is on the hook for the rest.
The emphasis on safety during this new school year will not stop at armed guards.
Fifteen-thousand high definition cameras got installed at all schools across the county and will be connected to a central command post.
Also mandated under the new law; active shooter training before each school year.
After finances, logistics and technology were squared away during last-minute meetings and negotiations with city leaders; Superintendent Alberto Carvalho says the goal has been met.
All Miami-Dade schools will be equipped with an armed guard all year long.